One of the best ways to prevent breast cancer and increase its prognosis is prompt detection. Although most women go through annual self-breast exams and mammogram screening for breast health through physical examination and mammogram, some women might want to consider expanding their daily surveillance program to include breast cancer genetic testing as well. Early detection allows the doctor to catch or treat any cancer that might have not spread to other areas of the body or if it was caught early enough to do less harm. For instance, in cancers of the bladder and lungs, where early detection helps to delay death, more people will survive if the cancer is detected earlier. Early detection also helps prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of your body or to other organs.
Mammograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most commonly recommended screening recommendations for women. But the latest findings on gene mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancers have led some experts to recommend specific breast cancer genetic testing for women at high risk for these diseases. Although not all gene mutations are necessarily harmful, there are some that seem to increase the risk of developing these cancers.
Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer are especially encouraged to consider breast cancer genetic testing. The more family members a woman has, the greater her chances are of being exposed to a breast cancer gene mutation. For example, a woman who has one sibling with this disease has a greater chance than average to be exposed to a mutation than does a woman with no known family history of this disease. Research has shown that the majority of these mutations occur within families, implying that even identical twins, divorced families with multiple members with cancer are at risk for mutation. Breast cancer genetic testing kit can prove to not just benefit you, but also your family, by creating awareness to the genetic risk.
A number of risk-lowering options are available to help women at risk for ovarian cancer. One option is called mammography. This test can detect tumors that are not visible to the naked eye. This minimizes the amount of radiation used in the screening process and can improve survival rates. Screening for abnormalities that are not detected by mammography may also lead to an early diagnosis of this disease, which is especially important for younger patients.
Another option is the DNA testing. It requires the help of a genetic counselor to conduct breast cancer genetic testing, and counseling with respect to health care providers. Counselors are specially trained to counsel patients and families about their risks and to provide information about the pros and cons of such testing. Once test results are received from a DNA test, a health care provider may recommend further testing, or treatment. A health care provider may decide to operate with an “off-label” application, or to treat the mutation with medication.
There are situations when breast cancer genetic testing for breast cancer is done for other reasons than to determine risk for a disease. Many companies deny coverage based on genetic information only, in order to avoid paying for expensive tests that will uncover whether or not the company is at risk for something else. In these cases, the patient has no way of proving that they have been denied proper coverage, due to their genetic information. This can be frustrating and troubling. It can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety to a patient and their family members, causing further financial strain.
Do You Or Any Of Your Family Members, (Children, Grandchildren, Parents, Siblings) Have Any Of The Following Problems?
Then you should take our No Cost / No Obligation simple 4 question survey to see if you possibly qualify for genetic testing.
Remember, what you learn could possibly save you or one of your family member’s lives! Take 3 minutes and do the survey. It is No Cost and No Obligation, BUT it could possibly make a lifetime of difference!
A health care provider who decides to operate with an “off-label” application should consider the benefits of doing so. When a doctor applies the breast cancer genetic testing method without first determining if it will prove helpful, the results can sometimes be misleading. By knowing that the health care provider has access to a variety of testing, such as an abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, mammography, or DNA extraction, he or she can make the best decision about breast cancer genetic testing for their patients.
As new technologies emerge and are made available by companies who make them available, the practice of genetic counseling will become even more important. Because genetic counselors will have a much better understanding of the overall benefits of such testing, they will be better able to determine who should be covered and who should avoid it. As the practice of breast cancer genetic testing counseling becomes more commonplace throughout the country, it will provide greater access to benefits that have often been denied to patients with breast cancer.
My father died with a heart attack and I have always worried if I am at risk. Genetic testing for potential heart problems gives me a sense of relief to determine my future health issues.
Multiple members of my family have died from cancer and it has been a real worry for me. With cancer genetic testing I can know my potential risks involving cancer.
My mother had a severe reaction to several drugs she was taking. By utilizing genetic testing for possible drug combinations that could hurt her, her doctor can now make changes to eliminate future problems.